The Binding of Wanli (I):Rites of Passage

The last few tweets wanted to talk to you about the Wanli Emperor, and not much else, but about his sadness. Wanli reigned for 48 years, his life was a long one and extremely sad. The huge empire was like a cage, he shaped his empire while being confined and bound by his empire.

Some events in history, on the surface, although it seems to be the end of the small section, but in essence, it is the crux of the occurrence of large events, but also in the future to set off the waves of the opportunity. The relationship between cause and effect is the focus of history.

Since this seems to be the end of the line, we might as well start with the little things.

In 1587 A.D., on the second day of the third month of the solar calendar, the snow and ice on both sides of the streets of Beijing had not yet thawed, and although the weather was not bitterly cold, the branches of the trees had not yet sprouted, so it was not a good time for outdoor activities. However, at lunchtime that day, the streets were bustling with activity. It turned out that news had come that the emperor was going to hold a lunchtime court, and the civil and military officials did not dare to slack off, and they all immediately ran to the imperial city.

Standing in front of the Daming Gate guarding the forbidden army did not receive the relevant orders in advance, but see many ministers dressed to attend, also thought to hold a ceremony, and therefore did not ask, open the door to let go. After the Daming Gate even if the Imperial City, civil and military officials see the atmosphere in front of the Dragon Boat Festival calm, no signs of the court above and below the towers, the Imperial Historian and the Imperial Guards "General Han" also disappeared, and have to speculate on the authenticity of the news of the lunchtime.

After the emperor's close eunuchs announced that the emperor did not convene the noon court. This dramatic event, the emperor could have been put into a smile, in fact, Wanli did not want to toss much, but considering that the matter is not the court's decency, he decided not to wait and see. The result is that the entire capital of the serving officials are punished with two months of salary. The punishment is a normal thing, but this time the punishment touched all the officials in the capital, and its severity is really unprecedented.

It is important to mention here that the official salary in the Ming Dynasty was really small. For example, the official rank of the Minister of Ministries was the second grade, and the annual salary was only one hundred and fifty-two taels of silver, which could not maintain the luxurious life of the senior officials in the capital. This was not enough to maintain the luxurious life of the senior officials in the capital. There was not much left after the normal living expenses, and there was no extra money for recreation. Compared with the generous official salaries in the Tang Dynasty, the official salaries in the Ming Dynasty were pitifully small. For most low-ranking officials, being penalized for two months would make them feel so strapped that they could not even pay for necessary household expenses.

In fact, from the emperor to the bureaucrats are with each other in mind, the court on the political affairs of a thousand things, and its main points are not out of etiquette and personnel two. Only in terms of etiquette, it reflects the hierarchy of respect and maintenance of the state system. Huge empire, to the literati management for tens of millions or even tens of thousands of people, if all the actual problems in the court and dish out, to review and analyze, naturally, can not be done, so our ancestors seized the etiquette of this key point, requiring large and small officials in order, up and down the order, as an example of the whole country.

And the emperor, as the son of heaven, his every word and deed would become a model for the whole country. So this required that the emperor needed to be familiar with all kinds of etiquette from a very young age. The Ming Dynasty was a dynasty where etiquette ruled the world, and there were not only many etiquettes but also many complex ones. Wanli, who ascended to the throne when he was nine years old, was not so much a monarch who was familiar with etiquette as a monarch who was bound by it.

In March 1587, he entered his 24th year of age by turning 23, and it was almost fifteen years since he ascended the throne. He would naturally remember well that in the winter of the year he turned eight, his father, the Emperor Longqing, held a coronation ceremony for him to symbolize becoming an adult. He was guided into the special tent in front of the temple, in accordance with the provisions of the rite of passage to change clothes and costumes, before and after three times in different attire to appear in public. Once out of the tent, he was guided to salute, holding a jade kyu, and to drink wine from a special cup. The entire program was accompanied by the singing and music of the ceremonial officers, and took nearly half a day. The next day, he was again led out to sit in front of the temple and received the congratulations of the hundred officials in the most solemn manner.

A few months later, Emperor Longqing, in accordance with the traditional program of "persuasion", all the officials to the most sincere rhetoric to request the crown prince that the emperor. Both on the throne of the emperor, he must be on a variety of rituals according to the rules. He offered sacrifices to heaven and earth, worshipped his ancestors, celebrated New Year's Day, appreciated the Duanyang Festival, received foreign ambassadors, and was dismissed from his post and retired. He also inspected the army, issued war flags, and accepted the "offering of prisoners" after a victory in a battle. Promulgate the next year's calendar, granting brothers, uncles and nephews of some of the title of "king", consort, give the number and so on. The ceremonies were numerous and complicated, and the emperor needed to change his crown and clothes frequently, sometimes several times a day, to participate in the ceremonies.

Wanli reigned for 48 years, was bound by the system of 48 years, however, not only bound by the system of rituals, but also the chief minister Zhang Juzheng. The story of Emperor Wanli and Chief Minister Zhang Juzheng is placed in the next tweet.